Radius-rod construction



A.; R. BRCKSMITH.

RADIUS ROD CONSTRUCTION.

APPLICATION man DEc.19.1919.

1,383,521. f humanly 5, 1921.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

.A DOLPI-I R. BROCKSMITTI, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

RADIUS-Ron CONSTRUCTION.

T0 all whom t may concern Be it known that I, ADoLPH R. BROCK- sMrrrr, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of St. Louis and State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Radius-Rod Construction7 of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to radius rod construction for motor vehicles.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved radius rod construction comprising a member having swivel connection with a fixed part of the motor vehicle, and its ends secured to the front axle at or near the lower side edge thereof, in combination with a member attached to the first-named member near the crotch and having its ends of angular construction to bear against one of the vertical sides and also against one of the horizontal sidesof the first-named member, anld having its ends attached above the front ax e.- Y i Another object is to'provide an improved radius rod construction comprising a bifurcated member having swivel connection with a fixed part of the motor vehicle and having its armsextending under the spindle connecting rod and also under the steering gear connecting rod and secured to the lower portion of the front axle,.in combination with a cooperating member of angular material interlocked with the bifurcated member near the crotch thereof and having its angles contacting with theY inner and upper sides of the arms of the first-named member, and having its arms extending above thespindle connectingrod and thesteering gear! connecting rod and rigidly attached above the front axle; whereby a structure lis provided comprising a lower member and an uppermember between which the spindle connecting rod and the steering gear connecting rod extend, and whereby both members of the radius rod structure are `prevented from interfering with the free movement and operation of said conncctingrods, and the front axle and its connected part-s are rigidly held in proper adjustment. y j

In the drawing. Figure 1 is a illustrating my4 new invention.

Fig. 2 is an finvertedfview of the upper member of the radius rod construction.

' Fig.x3 is an enlarged side elevation Vof the invention, the front axle being shown in section. Y .'2

Fig. 4 is'a cross sectional view on the line plan view Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led December 19, 1919.

APatented July 5, 1921..

Serial No. 346,105.

4 4 of Fig. 1, illustrating the interlocking connection between the two members of the radius rod device.

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the upper clamping member.

As shown my invention comprises a bifurcated member 1 having swivel connection 2 with a fixed part 3 of the motor vehicle. The swivel connection is at the union of the two arms of the member 1. The two arms of the member 1 diverge forwardly and extend below the spindle connecting rod 4 and below the steering gear connecting rod 5 of the vehicle. The forward ends of the arms of the member 1 are provided with eyes 6 through which the Shanks of the spring perches 7 extend. The shanks of the spring perches extend through yholes through the front axle A and through the eyes 6 of the member 1 and have nuts 8 threaded on-their lower ends and rigidly holding the spring perch'esin proper adjustment and the ends ofthe arms of the member 1 rigid. e

The coperating member of the radius rod structure is preferably composed of angle iron and, if desired, may be made of a single piece of angle iron as shown. When the coperating member is composed of a single piece of angle iron, said piece is bent to form two diverging arms of equal length, each having a vertical flange 9 and a horizontal flange 10. At or near the crotch of the angle iron member the vertical flange 9 is bent to form an interlocking portion 11. The angle iron member is placed upon the member 1 with the horizontal liange 10 thereof bearing upon the upper surface of the arms of the member 1 for some distance between the crotch of the member 1 and the ends of the arms thereof.

j The vertical flange 9 bears against the inner sides of the arms of the member 1 for some distance between the crotch of said member and the ends of the arms thereof. When so positioned the bent portions 11 engage under the inner portions of the arms of the member 1, as will be understood by reference to Fig. 4, in which it will be seen that aninterlocking connection exists between the upper and lower members and that it is impossible'for the upper member to be raised from the lower member without bending the parts 11 out of their interlocking engagement with the arms 1. As stated, the vertical and horizontal flanges of the angle ,ilOll member bear against or engage the inner and upper surfaces, respectively,

of the'arnis of the member. 1 for somedistance between the crotch of the vmember 1 and the ends of the arms thereof. At adesired poiint the arms or the angleV iron niem- Vber divergeupwardly from the arms oic the member 1, passing above the spindlecon#V nectin-g rod 4 and the steering gear connect-YY ing -rod 5, leaving said rods free to operate between and out of `contact with the lower and upper members. For a short distance from the ends of the arms of the angle iron member theliorizontal flange of each arm Y' isV folded against the outer surface of the vertical Vflange, thusl providing a doubled portion 12 at the'enitremityo'll each arm of the kupper member. The ends of the, arms of the vupper member are above-the front axle Ajeand adjacent tolthe spring perclies 7 to which saidl ends Vare seciiredby U-shaped fastening devices 13 passingV throughlholes in theends 12 of theupper'memberand embracing the spring perclies 7 .fbetween the arms thereof. Y

- It desired a'coperating securing device or clamp may be. used in addition to the 1n- Yterlocking portions'll in order to vhold the Y crotches ofthe upper and lofwer members in A rigidfconnectionr Oiiepform ofrsuch securingdevice'or clamp :is-shown. Asfshrivm7 Y said'Y device or clamp comprises: an ripper member 14 seated upon the horizontal flange 'f ofL the angle Viron; member and having :its

` l vends bent downwardly at. the sides o2 said members, asshown in Fig4;V and'afl'ower member lfexteiidmg under the two Vparts of ftheradius rod structure and li avingits ends bent outwardly at thesidesbfthe arms of themembfer 1;. A boltrlG passes through;Y

said members fand with the Vnut 'thereof binds or clamps"saidfmembers 14;an ;l 1t' Ytogetheiglthus, rigidly kholding theparts in' I proper relation. f 1; Y 1 The upper member14 otjthe.s eci'iringde,-V

vicelor clamp'fispreferably provided with bifurcated extension 17 The arms'of'the Lbiffurcated extension embrace the neck B of l the lower'memberVV lwbetween 1 them. "The" mentVv withY the neck B' and inV ordervtogbear against` thev shoulder formed at the. union 'ofi Y Athe divergi'ng Yarms yofthe member Thus,

the securing or V'clamp device will be rigidly iron radius. rod n iember,,"llhe constru'cti'on shown and described is very strong, jp'ref ventingwarping bending Vof any of theV partsunder strains, for withoiit the angle iron upper; radius: rjodfinember the parts ranged 'softliat the Yconnectingrods 4 and 5 Vwould engage and rub Vaga-inst the armsof fthe lowerV member 1. That wouldinterfere with the proper operation and controlof Vthe Vvehclesince lateral movement of the Vrods 4 and 5 is necessary in steering the rvehicle. In addition to these broader features ofthe invention the interlocking connection 11 between the upper,` andV lowerf members is highly advantageous, because itwill hold the 'iipper andlower parts of the'radiusrod structure rigidly togetherv .even thoughthe clamp'members 14 and 15 work looseor become detached, or: omitted,v entirely.V Vhile I haveshown theyangleiron member composed of a singlepiece, Ido not restrict myself in that particular because said Vmember may obviously beotherwiseconstructed.y YIclaim :j 1. In a motor vehicle, :radius rodconstruction comprising ia Tbiurcated. member having a swivel connectionwitha part of would bend or VVotherwise Vbecome disar-VY e5V 'Y the'motor vehicle',faiid having its arms iconv nectedrto therlower side of' the front axle,

an upper-member,composed of angle iron and havingY :WQ divergingg arms Vhaving their endsi rigidly'secured Tabolve the front axleY and having interlocked oonllectiongwith Y the crot'chfof; .thev lower meinber',=the angles ofY Vsaid upper member-YA engaging both; the

rinner and the upper sides bf the arms fof the lower f' member vfor relatively a considerable distancebetween. the crotch ofthe lower member andthe front axle.

a Alower. member Vhavingzldiverg' ing arms. se-

Y 2, AV radius rod jconsft'ructiomfCQmprising cured at their ends Y.to rthe-.iinderfsidegof `the front axleothevehicle, Van upper mem- Y ber Y composed of angle 1 iron; and having'two diverging arms tliedangles of the angle iron bearing against the upper'and.; theV` inner sides ofthe arms, of'the'lower n-'ieinber4 andY interlocking lwith the lowerY member adjaf,

17in 'Y cent to Vtheifcrotch thereof, and 'elements rigidly connectin'g '.tliearendsv of the lupper v Y combination Y VVVwith thefront aXle,the' spindle connecting rod :extending transversely [of :the vehicle inember'withthe rontlegf parallel 'withjthe front aide,` andtliesteeringgear connecting rodfexteiiding. .trans-Y versely of fthefvehicle, of a radiusgrod mem-j 512er 'CQmPfiSinetW -dvelreiriearmsghevine Y Y a Vswivel connection with a xe'dfpartoffthe I motor vehicle andghavingitsarmsextending Vunderv said connecting rods and 'rigidly.se-V cured tothennder Side'-of'theailegan upper! 112i) gf.

.radius rod member composedofrangleiron Y Y having interlocking.'connectionfwithftlieiripe V Y Vper'a'nd lowerfsidesof.cthejlowermeinberg 'naar the @wich threlalie bearingifeilst 13@ the upper and inner sides of the arms of the lower member for relatively a considerable distance between the crotch of the lower member and the front axle, and the arms of said upper member extending above said connecting rods and above the front axle, and elements holding said arms rigidly in connection with the front axle. Y

4. In a motor vehicle, a radius rod construction comprising a bifurcated member having its arms connected to the front axle;

la neck extending from the union of said arms and having swivel connection with a part of the motor vehicle; an additional member which is composed of angle iron and which has two diverging arms having their ends rigidly secured to the front axle; a clamp device composed of two parts located respectivel above and below said members and having their ends engaging the outer sides of the arms of said bifurcated member; and an extension, from one of said parts engaging the neck of said bifurcated member between said swivel connection and the union of said arms.

5. In a motor vehicle, the combination with a front axle and a bifurcated member having a swivel connection with a part of the motor vehicle and having its arms connected to the front axle, of an additional member which is composed of angle iron and which has two diverging arms having their ends rigidly secured above the front axle, said additional member bearing against the upper and the inner sides of the arms of the first-named member for a portion of the length thereof between the crotch of the iirst-named member and the front axle, a clamp device holding said members in engagement with each other, and an extension on said clamp device engaging the shoulders formed by the diverging arms of the biurcated member.

ADOLPH R. BROCKSMITH. 

